Portable misting fan with closely integrated pump

Abstract

A portable misting fan having a compact and three-dimensional body. An impeller includes a plurality of rotatable fan blades mounted to the body. An elongated and linearly actuating pump is incorporated into the body. A first end of the pump cylinder defines an inlet in communication with a fluid reservoir. A second end of the pump cylinder defines an exposed orifice in communication with a path of rotation associated with the fan blades, the orifice mounting to a discharge portion axially displaceable relative to an intermediate cylinder portion of the pump. A trigger is pivotally secured to the body, a portion of the trigger including a cam surface arranged in opposing and coacting fashion relative to a cam surface associated with the orifice. Upon depressing the trigger, the discharge tube is caused to displace inwardly relative to the cylinder portion, a spray mist issuing from the orifice and into a path associated with the rotating fan blades.

1 . A portable misting fan, comprising: 
 a three-dimensional body;    an impeller including a plurality of rotatable fan blades mounted to said body;    an elongated and linearly actuating pump incorporated into said body, a first end of said pump cylinder defining an inlet in communication with a fluid reservoir, a second end of said pump cylinder defining an exposed orifice in communication with a path of rotation associated with said fan blades, said orifice mounting to a piston axially displaceable relative to an intermediate cylinder portion of said pump; and    a trigger secured to said body, a portion of said trigger including a cam surface arranged in opposing and coacting fashion relative to a cam surface associated with said orifice such that, upon depressing said trigger, said piston is caused to displace inwardly relative to said cylinder portion, a spray mist issuing from said orifice and into a path associated with said rotating fan blades.    
   
   
       2 . The portable misting fan as described in  claim 1 , said pump further comprising an axially extending coil spring biasing said piston in a direction away from said cylinder portion.  
   
   
       3 . The portable misting fan as described in  claim 1 , further comprising a dip tube extending from said inlet end of said linearly actuated pump.  
   
   
       4 . The portable misting fan as described in  claim 1 , further comprising a battery incorporated into said body and electrically communicable to a motor for driving said impeller.  
   
   
       5 . The portable misting fan as described in  claim 4 , further comprising a switch selectively communicating an output of said battery to said motor, a switch actuator selectively activating and deactivating said switch.  
   
   
       6 . The portable misting fan as described in  claim 1 , further comprising a grommet support for mounting said linearly actuating pump in an arrayed fashion within said body.  
   
   
       7 . The portable misting fan as described in  claim 4 , said motor having a specified shape and size and exhibiting an axial centerline associated with an output drive shaft in operative communication with said impeller.  
   
   
       8 . The portable misting fan as described in  claim 1 , said elongated pump exhibiting a specified shape and size and being arranged such that an axial centerline extending through said orifice extends substantially parallel to said centerline associated with said drive shaft and motor.  
   
   
       9 . The portable misting fan as described in  claim 1 , said trigger exhibiting a specified shape and size and including an interiorly recessed enclosure overlying said orifice.  
   
   
       10 . The portable misting fan as described in  claim 9 , further comprising guide tracks extending along inner surfaces of said enclosure and positioning said orifice during coacting of said cam surfaces and inward displacement of said orifice and discharge tube.  
   
   
       11 . The portable misting fan as described in  claim 1 , said body having a specified shape and size and further comprising a fan enclosure disengageable from a mating reservoir enclosure.  
   
   
       12 . The portable misting fan as described in  claim 1 , said body being mounted atop a fluid holding reservoir, a dip tube extending from said inlet end of said pump cylinder, at an angle relative to an axial centerline associated with said pump cylinder, and into said fluid holding reservoir.  
   
   
       13 . The portable misting fan as described in  claim 12 , further comprising a gasket for fluidly sealing an annular opening associated with said body to an open neck associated with said fluid holding reservoir.  
   
   
       14 . The portable misting fan as described in  claim 1 , further comprising a fluid holding reservoir located remotely from said body and interconnected by an elongated and flexible fluid carrying tube.  
   
   
       15 . The portable misting fan as described in  claim 14 , said fluid holding reservoir further comprising a flexible bladder including a cap for refilling, as well as a location from which said flexible tube extends.  
   
   
       16 . The portable misting fan as described in  claim 14 , said body further comprising a bite valve extending from said inlet end of said pump cylinder, in angular and fluidly communicating fashion relative to an inlet associated with said flexible tube, by a manifold disposed therebetween.  
   
   
       17 . The portable misting fan as described in  claim 16 , said bite valve further comprising a flexible bite valve sleeve, a check valve communicating said bite valve sleeve with said fluid inlet and, upon engaging said bite valve, facilitating fluid flow through said sleeve.  
   
   
       18 . The portable misting fan as described in  claim 1 , said body having a specified shape and size and incorporating a fluid holding reservoir.  
   
   
       19 . The portable misting fan as described in  claim 18 , a reservoir plug defined in said body and communicating with said fluid holding reservoir.  
   
   
       20 . The portable misting fan as described in  claim 18 , said body further comprising first and second assembleable halves assembled in a clamshell arrangement by sonic welding to define said reservoir.  
   
   
       21 . A portable misting fan, comprising: 
 a three-dimensional body upon which is mounted an impeller including a plurality of rotatable fan blades;    an elongated and linearly actuating pump mounted in extending fashion within said body, a first end of said pump cylinder defining an inlet in communication with a fluid reservoir defined within said body, a second end of said pump cylinder terminating in an exposed and axially displaceable orifice in communication with a path of rotation associated with said fan blades, said orifice mounting to a discharge portion extending within an intermediate cylinder portion of said pump; and    a trigger pivotally secured to first and second surfaces of said body, cam surfaces associated with said trigger and orifice being arranged in opposing and coacting fashion such that, upon depressing said trigger, said discharge tube is caused to displace inwardly relative to said cylinder portion resulting in a spray mist issuing from said orifice and into a path associated with said rotating fan blades.    
   
   
       22 . A portable misting fan, comprising: 
 a three-dimensional body formed by first and second assembleable halves;    a first reservoir chamber defined in said body, a resealable plug permitting a refilling of said chamber;    at least one additional chamber enclosing a motor, a supplying battery and a spray mechanism communicating with an exteriorly disposed orifice;    a port interconnecting said first reservoir chamber with said spray mister; and    a pump located within said reservoir chamber and which is at least partially immersed in a fluid reservoir, actuation of said pump supplying fluid to said spray mechanism for issuance through said orifice.